The quest for silence

 A focus when fishing like a spider is stealth, and I had always believed that I was stealthy. I would often gauge my skills next to the bird life on and around the water. If they were not disturbed I figured that I was ninja enough. But even with my increased awareness I was still spooking fish, especially fishing fresh water shallows and streams.
Some years back, I had taken a shower pad and carpeted my Tarpon 140. It really made life a lot more comfortable during those hot summer days sitting in a dark plastic boat and I immediately noticed the increased silence factor.


While I enjoyed the comfort, quiet, and easy clean up of the converted shower rug, it had a flaw.
Standing up is also a skill that I put a lot of value in and my noise canceling carpet moved under my feet. It ended up being used as a loading/unloading keel grip/protector and didn't see any more time in the boat.

 It was when I started using the GoPro for my adventures in auto-documentation that I noticed how ridiculously noisy I am when I look at the video. I was shocked, offended, and painfully disappointed at how un-spider like I am on the water.
 Then, STS hit the kayak fishing mainstream and for all of the reasons above, I jumped on the bandwagon.
STS is now called Conseal.
I found it super easy to work with and it has been durable. It is comfortable on my feet and the stand up grip effect is just what I had hoped for.
 My river boat was the first that I used this product on and then I used what material I had left over on "Her" Tarpon 120.







 It seemed logical to get her boat done next since I am only as quiet as she is and only as happy as she is comfortable. This grip sticker is far more pleasing than plastic on bare feet.
After a sonar upgrade, new rod holders, and STS in place, there was ice cream and much rejoicing.


Unfortunately we sold that boat a few months later. 

 After some quality time using a "Conseal" modified boat, I find the sound dampening to be adequate but not amazing. It definitely dulls the sounds of work space ops but I would like to be even quieter.

This year I am going to be working with a product called Hydro-Turf.
http://hydroturf.com
A SUP pad material that is sold by the sheet and has color options.
Hydro-turf also is able to provide a sticky side compatable with plastics.

I hope to use the Hydro-turf in combination with the Conseal on all boats in the fishing quiver.
Since this is my first time working with a SUP pad on a plastic kayak, Im not afraid of advice if anyone has tried this type of project.
 

I'm interested to see how this turns out. I've looked at the sea deck kits a little. Have you looked into to those? They are pre cut kayak specific kits.

Im totally interested in your results as well, i like being quiet, but the deck work space is so noisy!

..... After some quality time using a "Conseal" modified boat, I find the sound dampening to be adequate but not amazing. It definitely dulls the sounds of work space ops but I would like to be even quieter.

This year I am going to be working with a product called Hydro-Turf.
http://hydroturf.com
A SUP pad material that is sold by the sheet and has color options.
Hydro-turf also is able to provide a sticky side compatable with plastics.

I hope to use the Hydro-turf in combination with the Conseal on all boats in the fishing quiver.
Since this is my first time working with a SUP pad on a plastic kayak, Im not afraid of advice if anyone has tried this type of project.
 

I used quite a bit of Hydro Turf product back in the 90's on PWC, it started out being called Jet Strip, then became HT and I liked the product a lot.

We used contact cement (3M product was the best for this) to adhere it to the fiberglass hulls. I'm not sure if that applies to attachment to plastic. Great idea, I am going to get some for my boats! Let us know how the attachment method works out.

 Thanks for the Hydro-turf info John. I am curious/concerned as to whether the hydro-turf has the flexibility to make some hard angles without wrinkling. Im hoping to line the deep bucket seat well of the RTM disco with it.

From what I can determine in your photo, and if the thickness and EVA material is similar, the glue process and hold is comparable, you should be able to form a decent amount of the areas and cut-in the rest for a sweet fit. The bond charecteristics between the parts was good.

Are you intending to line the entire seat, foot and well area?

Holy cow, look at that yak cave! How many friggen kayaks do you have?

That was my thought a whole room devoted to yaks.

Yak gurney. 

Yak gurney. 

THAT is badass! 

I want to use the hydro-turf in the bucket seat and a combination of the h-turf, conceal, and mini-cell to create a high speed lounge chair feel. This project has more to do comfort and support than stealth. Both the Tarpon 140 and 160 will get hydro-turf through the work space for sound dampening. If those work out I might replace some of the conceal in the Jackson boat.

Pat, we have a reasonably humble quiver for the both of us. Our racks hold 8 and a spot on the gurney.
3 spots are taken up by SUP boards. And some of the boats in those pics have been sold to make room for some upgrades.
My WW boat, the WS surfboat, and the Tarpon 120 are all gone and Im getting ready to sell another.
We moved to a house that does not have a garage (yet).
While we do enjoy the new lair, the room is not ideal and has multiple challenges as a temporary boat barn. Gave up the bar, TV, gravity gym, futon, workbench,all of the mantasticness  that is a dudes garage, and the serious sting of having to give away my surf ski.






So many things that I miss about about that old cave but there is not doubt that I miss its giant folding door the most.

I used to use Hydro turf too on my Jet Skis. I think I still have one that has it on it. Ski is blowed up though.

I'm interested to see how this turns out. I've looked at the sea deck kits a little. Have you looked into to those? They are pre cut kayak specific kits.

 Thank you for pointing me in the Seadek direction. Those templates are great if they have one for your particular boat.
Im going to check on the future plans for more kayak options. Looks like another good product.

http://www.seadek.com/c-97-kayak-non-skid-pads.aspx

    Check out this site.    If they don't already have the pattern you are looking for, you can send a template for a custom fit.

    Really cool set up you have Hydrospider man!     

Hydro-turf applied to the T140.
It is thicker than the Conceal product but Im not positive that the sound dampening is any better.
I am absolutely positive that I enjoy fishing more in a carpeted boat.